Rivlin congratulates Trump, invites him to Jerusalem

President Reuven Rivlin sent a letter to incoming US President Donald Trump on Saturday evening, congratulating him on his inauguration the day before and inviting him to visit Israel.

“Mr. President, as a longstanding friend of the State of Israel, you now stand as leader of the free world, and of Israel’s most important and closest ally,” Rivlin wrote.

“The alliance between our states and our nations is not solely based on friendship. It is rooted in our shared values and longstanding commitment to freedom, liberty, and democracy — the foundation stones of our societies.”

Rivlin thanked his new American counterpart for the support and friendship of the American people and expressed his hope that the special relationship and cooperation between the two countries “will continue to flourish and grow stronger.”

“On behalf of our people, I wish you and your administration much success, and take this opportunity to extend to you an invitation to visit the State of Israel and be our guest in Jerusalem,” Rivlin’s letter concluded.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Naftali Bennett took to Twitter on Saturday evening, hailing “a new diplomatic era.”

Bennett, the leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, tweeted in Hebrew that he would push for Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

“For the first time in 50 years,” he wrote, “the Israeli prime minister has the chance to make a decision: either sovereignty or Palestine.”

On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu preempted the inauguration to offer his congratulations to “President Trump,” apparently because the inauguration took place after Shabbat started in Israel.

He tweeted: “Congrats to my friend President Trump. Look fwd to working closely with you to make the alliance between Israel&USA stronger than ever.”

That was echoed almost immediately after the inauguration by Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, who tweeted: “Congratulations President Trump! Israel looks forward to working with you to make the US-Israel alliance greater than ever.”

Congrats to my friend President Trump. Look fwd to working closely with you to make the alliance between Israel&USA stronger than ever. ????????????????

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 20, 2017

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said the start of the new administration would herald a sea change, particularly at the United Nations, where Israel recently suffered one of its worst reverses in recent years when President Obama refused to use the US veto in a resolution that condemned Israeli settlements.

Congratulations President Trump! Israel looks forward to working with you to make the US-Israel alliance greater than ever.

— Ron Dermer – רון דרמר (@AmbDermer) January 20, 2017

“A true friend of Israel will enter the White House today,” said Danon in a statement. “Thank you President Trump for your unequivocal support, we look forward to welcoming you to our capital of Jerusalem.”

“After the shameful resolution that was adopted by the Security Council, Israel looks forward to strengthening our most important alliance and leading together towards a new era at the UN,” he said.

But while Israel’s leaders enthused, analysts suggested a more cautious approach, saying that despite all his pro-Israel pronouncements, Trump was still an unknown quantity for Israel.

“We have to ask if such an isolationist president will be good for Israel; will he have the patience for us,” said Channel 2’s lead anchor Yonit Levi after Trump again promised in his inaugural address to always put America’s interests first.

Channel 2 foreign editor Arad Nir highlighted Trump’s use of the term “America First” in his address, with its echoes of World War II-era anti-Semitic connotations and his support from far-right groups.

And diplomatic correspondent Udi Segal highlighted several areas that could be of concern for Israel.

“This is good for Netanyahu, because of the changing of the guard; Obama is out and Trump is in, but there are concerns,” he said.

“Will his close ties with Putin end up leading to a permanent Iranian role in Syria?” Segal asked. Russia has very close ties with both Iran and Syria and Israel is adamant that arch-enemy Iran not establish a significant presence in its war-torn northern neighbor.

Segal also highlighted the different attitude the Trump administration will take regarding Israeli settlers. Trump’s new ambassador is a strong supporter of the settlements and a delegation of leaders attended the inauguration.

“I definitely agree that we are now getting the VIP treatment, which is something that we have been working on for many years,” said Oded Revivi, chief foreign envoy of the Yesha Council, an umbrella group representing Israel’s more than 120 West Bank settlements. “You could basically argue that it has taken 50 years, since 1967, to be recognized on such a level for such an event,” he told AP.

The third key area is Jerusalem. Trump promised to move his embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Members of the Israeli government have been vocally supportive of the plan to move the embassy, which Trump vowed to do while on the campaign trail and after his victory in November.

The politically charged move has, however, caused outrage among Palestinians who see part of Jerusalem as their future capital, and it was on Thursday indirectly condemned by foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

According to a report Friday in the Haaretz newspaper, officials from the IDF, police and Shin Bet earlier this week presented Netanyahu and senior members of the cabinet — among them Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan — with scenarios that could ensue after an embassy relocation.

The prime minister instructed the security officials to prepare for such a move from the moment that the new president is sworn in.

Haaretz quoted two senior Israeli officials familiar with topics raised at the meeting as saying that Netanyahu and others present made it clear that Israel has no solid information on if and when Trump will issue a notice to transfer the embassy to Jerusalem.

One of the officials said Netanyahu has spoken with Trump by phone several times since the election, but at the time of the meeting, had not received a clear answer from the new president about the timing of an embassy relocation

According to Haaretz, the two officials said that the purpose of the meeting was to prepare for possible repercussions from the relocation of the embassy, particularly in light of a media campaign being waged against it by the Palestinian Authority. One of the officials said there has been explicit incitement to violence by Palestinian officials in recent weeks regarding the matter.